Electrode positioning means



Oct. 31, 1961 c. FULLER 3,005,632

ELECTRODE POSITIONING MEANS Filed Nov. 17, 1958 United States Patent3,006,632 ELECTRODE POSITIONING MEANS Carl L. Fuller, Wellsville, N.Y.,assignor to Apra Precipitator Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporationof Delaware Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,446 1 Claim. (Cl. 269115)This invention relates to electrostatic precipitators and moreparticularly to a portable fixture for concentrically positioningdischarge electrodes of electrostatic precipitation apparatus within anouter collector surface.

The operation of electrostatic precipitation apparatus briefly comprisespassing gas containing suspended foreign particles through a strongelectric field between a centrally located discharge electrode and anouter grounded collector surface. The suspended particles becomeelectrically charged and move, under the influence of a strong electricfield, to the grounded collector surfaces. If any portion of the highvoltage electrode is closer to the surrounding collecting surface, thanany other portion, a situation will be presented where there will be ashunting or flashover at low voltage, thus limiting the strength of thefield and the operating efiiciency of the precipitator.

The primary object of this invention is therefore to provide means whichwill positively center each discharge electrode within a surroundingcollecting surface to preclude flashover and provide an optimum ofperformance.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrode centeringdevice of a temporary nature that may be used repeatedly to provideeconomy of operation.

The above and other objects of my invention will become more apparentwhen viewed in the light of the following description of which theaccompanying drawings are a part.

In the drawing FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in section of mycentering device as used to center a discharge electrode within acollecting tube.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of my centering device as applied to anelectrode within a hexagonal tube.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a single element that comprises my invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the device of FIG- URE 3.

In the drawings a series of collecting tubes are disposed in abuttingrelation to provide a bank of collecting surfaces through which a flowof dust carrying gases is directed. Each tube is provided with adischarge electrode 12 that is positioned axially therethrough in themanner shown in FIGURE 1, and each discharge electrode is preferablyformed with sharp projections or tablike elements 14 that promote theelectrostatic discharge to the surrounding surface 10.

In order that flashover may be precluded and the electrostatic dischargefrom the tabs may be maintained constant, it is necessary that thedistance from the edge of each tab to the surrounding collecting surfacebe kept constant throughout the extent of the electrode. In accordancewith this requirement, my invention provides a centering device orfixture that positively locks each electrode at the center of thetubular collecting surface until it may be permanently secured in suchposition by any 2 of various arrangements. After the electrodes havebeen permanently secured in position, the centering device or fixturemay be readily removed for continued reuse.

The centering device comprises essentially two disks 16 each having anoutside diameter only slightly less than the diametric distance betweenflats of a standard hexagonal collecting tube 10. Each disk is providedwith a radial slot 18 adapted to embrace the discharge electrode 12 withthe base of the slot contacting the side of the electrode when it isexactly centered, and each disk is provided with a lifting means orhandle 20 on its face that extends axially thereof to facilitateinsertion and removal from the end of a collecting tube.

In use the slot of each disk is adapted to slide around the dischargeelectrode 12 and into the hexagonal collecting tube 10 until it abutsthe top discharge tab 14 on the electrode. The first such disk isinserted into an end of the collecting tube and around the dischargeelectrode as above specified before a second disk is superposed with itsslot circumferentially displaced sufficient to provide a compositeannular member with a central opening whose Wall contacts the electrodeto center it. In the form disclosed each disk is provided with a liftingmeans 20 secured to its upper face diametrically opposite the slot,whereby the lifting means of the lower disk extends through the slot ofthe upper when the slots are dia metrically disposed. When the seconddisk is positioned within the hexagonal tube as above defined, theelectrode is locked concentrically within the collecting surface and maybe permanently secured as desired. After the discharge electrode is sosecured, the centering disks may be readily removed by means of thehandles 20 secured to the upper surface thereof.

While this invention has been described with reference to the embodimentillustrated in the drawing, it is evident that minor changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What I claim is:

Means for temporarily positioning a cylindrical discharge electrodecoaxially within a regular polygonal collecting surface comprising, apair of diametrically slotted positioning disks arranged in face-to-faceengagement with their diametric slots opening in opposite directions toprovide a composite annular member surrounding the discharge electrode,said disks having an outer diameter somewhat less than the distancebetween sides of the polygonal collecting surface; and a protuberanceextending axially and in the same direction from the face of each diskadapted to permit their insertion into the collecting surface and aroundthe discharge electrode in a plane normal to the longitudinal axes ofsaid electrode.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS706,071 Bauve Aug. 5, 1902 766,093 Albrand July 26, 1904 1,729,175 MeierSept. 24, 1929 2,358,606 Summers Sept. 19, 1944

